All art compositions begin with the Elements of Art. Without knowledge of the Elements of Art, you will have a hard time taking and creating successful photographic compositions. You will be taking and editing several photographs that illustrate the Elements of Art. You will create two compositions that utilize the Elements of Art through the use of Adobe Photoshop tools.
The elements of art are the building blocks of all art creations. The elements give artworks structure. Without the structure, art would fall apart or not even exist. There are seven elements of art: line, shape, texture, space, color, value, and form. While they each have their own characteristics, one often could not exist without the other.
Description of the Element
Visual Examples
Line
Line is a moving dot. There are many different types of lines: geometric, organic, thick, and thin. Shape and texture begin with line and could not exist without line.
Photo 1: This photo illustrates line because of the veins that exist on the leaf, and the organic lines that are created by the edge of the leaf. The veins on the outside of the leaf created very thin lines, leading to the center vein that is much thicker.
Shape
Shape is a two dimensional area enclosed by line. Similarly to line, shapes can be organic or geometric in nature. Shapes could not exist without lines creating the enclosed area.
Photo 2: This photo illustrates organic shape. The orange petals and other parts of the flowers are clearly defined 2-D areas.
Texture
Texture is the visual and tactile qualities of a surface. In simple terms, there are two categories of textures: actual and simulated. Actual texture is a surface that can actually be felt. Simulated texture is implied surface qualities, such as textures in a photograph. You can't actually touch the texture in a photograph, but you can see it.
Photograph 3: The photography of the koala bear illustrates texture through the fur. The fur looks as if it would feel like texture. However, considering it is a photograph, the texture is simulated or implied.
Value
Value is the use of light and dark (or highlights and shadows). Typically, something that has value contrast (a large difference between lights and dark), is more appealing or interesting. Without value, black and white photography would not exist because black and white photos depend on values alone, without color, to define the subject.
Photo 4: The photography of the zebra illustrates value and value contrast. There are definite highlights and shadows, which often exist next to each other in the photograph, creating contrast.
Space
There are two ways of thinking about space. First, space is depth or the illusion of depth. Usually there is a foreground, middle ground, and background to illustrate space. Second, space can be positive or negative. Positive space is the space occupied by the subject. Negative space is the area around the subject.
Photo 5: This photograph illustrate depth because of the shells in the foreground. The shells are in the lower portion of the photo, creating a sense of closeness. In the background is a man that is blurry and far away.
The positive space in the photograph is created by the shells and the man, which are the subjects of the photograph. The sand and the sky create the negative space.
Form
Form is a three-dimensional object. Something that has form also takes up space or has volume.
Photo 6: The laps in this photograph have form. They occupy space and have volume. Form is often accompanied by value. Anything that is 3-D will reflect light in different ways, showing value as well. The closest lamp shows both highlights and shadows, emphasizing the three-dimensional qualities.
Color
Color is the result of light reflecting off of the surface. In art, color refers to the hue that is used. Value can be shown with color be using tints and shades. Color is best used in color schemes, such as: primary, secondary, tertiary, and monochromatic.
Photo 7: Color can also impact the mood of a photograph. The top photograph is a normal photo. The neon lights above contrast with the warmer colors of the table. The monochromatic version of the photograph gives a different message. The photograph is much colder and perhaps gloomier.
Project Requirements:
1. Brainstorming:
Choose 3 themes to begin. Examples: Ocean, nature, sports, fashion.
Create a list of 10 objects/subjects you can possibly take a photograph of to represent the theme. Create a list of each theme (3 lists).
Choose your best/favorite theme idea.
2. Take 20 photographs that illustrate the chosen theme.
3. Categorize and save the photographs according to the element of art that the photograph best represents. You will need to have 2 for each element (14 total).
4. Edit the photographs, emphasizing the element. Try to enhance the color, crop, rotate, add filters, and increase contrast. Make the photographs look the best and as interesting as possible.
5. Re-size the images, changing the width to 500 pixels. Save the smaller photos as a different file, using a different name, such as "color 1 small". (This must be done in order to upload the images to Prezi).
6. Create a Prezi presentation using all 14 photographs. Make sure all the photographs are labeled with the proper element within the Prezi. (See the Prezi page for instructions and tutorials).
7. Create a composition (drawing, painting, print, etc.) that is inspired by ONE of the elements photographs. You can create a composition that actually includes the photograph or a composition that is a recreation of the photograph.
Elements of Art
Why Learn the About the Elements of Art?
All art compositions begin with the Elements of Art. Without knowledge of the Elements of Art, you will have a hard time taking and creating successful photographic compositions. You will be taking and editing several photographs that illustrate the Elements of Art. You will create two compositions that utilize the Elements of Art through the use of Adobe Photoshop tools.
What are the Elements of Art?
Elements of Art on Prezi
Elements of Art Discussion
Description of the Element
Visual Examples
Line
Line is a moving dot. There are many different types of lines: geometric, organic, thick, and thin. Shape and texture begin with line and could not exist without line.
Photo 1: This photo illustrates line because of the veins that exist on the leaf, and the organic lines that are created by the edge of the leaf. The veins on the outside of the leaf created very thin lines, leading to the center vein that is much thicker.
Shape
Shape is a two dimensional area enclosed by line. Similarly to line, shapes can be organic or geometric in nature. Shapes could not exist without lines creating the enclosed area.
Photo 2: This photo illustrates organic shape. The orange petals and other parts of the flowers are clearly defined 2-D areas.
Texture
Texture is the visual and tactile qualities of a surface. In simple terms, there are two categories of textures: actual and simulated. Actual texture is a surface that can actually be felt. Simulated texture is implied surface qualities, such as textures in a photograph. You can't actually touch the texture in a photograph, but you can see it.
Photograph 3: The photography of the koala bear illustrates texture through the fur. The fur looks as if it would feel like texture. However, considering it is a photograph, the texture is simulated or implied.
Value
Value is the use of light and dark (or highlights and shadows). Typically, something that has value contrast (a large difference between lights and dark), is more appealing or interesting. Without value, black and white photography would not exist because black and white photos depend on values alone, without color, to define the subject.
Photo 4: The photography of the zebra illustrates value and value contrast. There are definite highlights and shadows, which often exist next to each other in the photograph, creating contrast.
Space
There are two ways of thinking about space. First, space is depth or the illusion of depth. Usually there is a foreground, middle ground, and background to illustrate space. Second, space can be positive or negative. Positive space is the space occupied by the subject. Negative space is the area around the subject.
Photo 5: This photograph illustrate depth because of the shells in the foreground. The shells are in the lower portion of the photo, creating a sense of closeness. In the background is a man that is blurry and far away.
The positive space in the photograph is created by the shells and the man, which are the subjects of the photograph. The sand and the sky create the negative space.
Form
Form is a three-dimensional object. Something that has form also takes up space or has volume.
Photo 6: The laps in this photograph have form. They occupy space and have volume. Form is often accompanied by value. Anything that is 3-D will reflect light in different ways, showing value as well. The closest lamp shows both highlights and shadows, emphasizing the three-dimensional qualities.
Color
Color is the result of light reflecting off of the surface. In art, color refers to the hue that is used. Value can be shown with color be using tints and shades. Color is best used in color schemes, such as: primary, secondary, tertiary, and monochromatic.
Photo 7: Color can also impact the mood of a photograph. The top photograph is a normal photo. The neon lights above contrast with the warmer colors of the table. The monochromatic version of the photograph gives a different message. The photograph is much colder and perhaps gloomier.
Project Requirements:
1. Brainstorming:- Choose 3 themes to begin. Examples: Ocean, nature, sports, fashion.
- Create a list of 10 objects/subjects you can possibly take a photograph of to represent the theme. Create a list of each theme (3 lists).
- Choose your best/favorite theme idea.
2. Take 20 photographs that illustrate the chosen theme.3. Categorize and save the photographs according to the element of art that the photograph best represents. You will need to have 2 for each element (14 total).
4. Edit the photographs, emphasizing the element. Try to enhance the color, crop, rotate, add filters, and increase contrast. Make the photographs look the best and as interesting as possible.
5. Re-size the images, changing the width to 500 pixels. Save the smaller photos as a different file, using a different name, such as "color 1 small". (This must be done in order to upload the images to Prezi).
6. Create a Prezi presentation using all 14 photographs. Make sure all the photographs are labeled with the proper element within the Prezi. (See the Prezi page for instructions and tutorials).
7. Create a composition (drawing, painting, print, etc.) that is inspired by ONE of the elements photographs. You can create a composition that actually includes the photograph or a composition that is a recreation of the photograph.